Why is Medusa portrayed as a monster?
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Why is Medusa portrayed as a monster?
In this popular version the Medusa is a monster with hair of a thousand snakes. She is under a curse which causes everything she looks at to turn to stone. Cixous explains that this monstrous image of the Medusa exists only because it has been directly determined by the male gaze.
How is Medusa portrayed in the story?
During this time, Medusa is depicted as a monster; she has a round face, wide eyes, a beard, and a gaping mouth with an extended tongue and gnashing, sharp teeth (39.11. 9). Medusa remains a popular image on later architectural components, but her form is more specifically human and female.
Which goddess has the most beautiful voice?
‘beautiful-voiced’) is the Muse who presides over eloquence and epic poetry; so called from the ecstatic harmony of her voice….
| Calliope | |
|---|---|
| Goddess of Epic Poetry | |
| Member of the Muses | |
| Detail of painting The Muses Urania and Calliope by Simon Vouet, in which she holds a copy of the Odyssey | |
| Abode | Mount Olympus |
How is Medusa portrayed in ancient art?
Just as Medusa exists in multiple types of stories in the mythological record, she is also portrayed in multiple ways in ancient art. Her appearance changes drastically through the centuries, but she is always recognizable due to her striking frontality.
What happened to Medusa in Greek mythology?
Sympathetic artists took note, and images of Medusa became increasingly human. Bronze ornament from a chariot pole, 1st-2nd century A.D. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Yet, whether alluring or monstrous, Medusa’s ultimate fate always remains the same: She’s decapitated by Perseus.
What was Medusa’s relationship with emotion and passion like?
As begin to delve deeper into the character of Medusa, we come to realise that she had a much closer relationship with representations of emotion and passion, both of which are reflected in her many and complex artistic representations.
Was Medusa a splinter-self of Athena?
Some interpretations suggest that Medusa may even have been a splinter-self of Athena. North African Lybian mythology speaks of a Triple Goddess named Anatha. Her three aspects were likely morphed in Greek Mythology to: Athena the Maiden, Metis the Mother, and Medusa the Crone.